Interlocking order parameter fluctuations in structural transitions between adsorbed polymer phases

Abstract

By means of contact-density chain-growth simulations of a simple coarse-grained lattice model for a polymer grafted at a solid homogeneous substrate, we investigate the complementary behavior of the numbers of surface–monomer and monomer–monomer contacts under various solvent and thermal conditions. This pair of contact numbers represents an appropriate set of order parameters that enables the distinct discrimination of significantly different compact phases of polymer adsorption. Depending on the transition scenario, these order parameters can interlock in perfect cooperation. The analysis helps understand the transitions from compact filmlike adsorbed polymer conformations into layered morphologies and dissolved adsorbed structures, respectively, in more detail.